Leaf spring knob detent



April 6, 1965 E. J. KROOK ETAL LEAF SPRING KNOB DETENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 21, 1963 EDWIN J. KROOK HARRY V. BUKALA INVENTORS A ril 6,1965 E. J. KROOK ETAL 7 LEAF SPRING KNOB DETENT Filed March 21, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 l4 I3 2s '8 Fig. 5 a 27 24 28 gowm J. KROOK HARRY V.BUKALA INVENTORS Atty.

United States Patent ()fi Fice 3,177,924 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 3,177,024LEAF SPRING KNOB DETENT Edwin J. Krook, 1008 S. Ottillia SE., and HarryV. Bukala, 906 Eastern Ave. NE., both of Grand Rapids,

Mich.

Filed Mar. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 266,870 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-353) Devicesfor securing the knob are in very wide use, and

are to be found in almost all door latches. The extent of the use ofthis sort of device causes the matter of cost to become a very importantfactor. This invention provides for releasably securing a knob withoutseparate manipulation of the retaining detent, and presents a minimumobstruction to the interior of the supporting knob sleeve. Thesefeatures result from a structure of striking simplicity and ease ofassembly. The several features of the invention will be analyzed infurther detail through a discussion of the particular embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevational showing a knob in intermediate stageof the axial engagement with the supporting knob sleeve.

FIGIRE 2 shows the knob in the final assembled po sition, and locked inplace by the detent device.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the knob sleeve shown in FIGURES 1 and2, and illustrated in the initial position prior to the installation ofthe detent device.

FIGURE 4 presents a plan view showing the installed position of thedetent on the knob sleeve.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the detent device itself.

In the assembly illustrated in the drawings, the knob generallyindicated at has a tubular shank portion 11 axially interengaged withthe tubular sleeve 12. The detent device generally indicated at 13 has aportion 14 disposed to register with the slot 15 in the knob sleeve 11to lock the knob 16) against axial movement with respect to the sleeve12 when the knob is in the final assembled position shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, the sleeve 12 is preferably preparedwith a particular configuration for receiving the detent device 13. Thematerial of the sleeve 12 is lanced inwardly at axially spaced points toform the chordal portions 16 and 17 which are to form a platform forsupporting the base 18 of the detent device. The material between thechordal portions 16 and 17 is separated in approximately the center, andbent up wardly to form the tabs 19 and 20 which are later folded downover the base portion 18 to confine the detent device. The apertures 21and 22 are also formed in the sleeve 12 at positions axially inward withrespect to the chordal portions 16 and 17 (axially inward being to theleft, as shown in the several views of the drawings).

In the installation of the detent device 13, the base portion 18 isplaced upon the chordal portions 16 and 17, with the lateral extensions23 and 24 being received between the tabs 19 and 20 and the edges 25 and26 of the sleeve 12, respectively. The embracement of the base portion18 by the tabs 19 and 20 will complete the confinement of the detentmember so that it is fully restrained against movement in any direction.

The detent member 13 has a resilient leaf-spring portion 27 extendingfrom the base 18 to the locking projection 14, and a substantial part ofthe resilient portion is formed to provide a ramp 28. During the initialstages of the axial movement of the knob onto the sleeve, as shown inFIGURE 1, the advancing edge 29 of the knob shank engages the rampportion 28 so that the locking projection 14 is depressed below theperipheral cylindrical surface of the sleeve 12, permitting the passageof the knob into the fully assembled position shown in FIGURE 2. Whenthe locking projection 14 comes into registry With the retaining slot15, the resilience of the portion 27 causes the projection 14 to snapinto the normal position shown in FIGURE 2. The axial location of theenlarged portion 30 of the knob 16 with respect to the ramp 28 and theresilient portion 27 is such that the final position of the knob placesthese components of the detent device where sufficient clearance existsfor the movement to the locking position shown in FIGURE 2. It ispreferable that the knob sleeve be formed with an axial slot as shown at31, and that the knob shank be provided with a key projection 32 forregistry with the slot 31. Particularly with the slot 31 dimensionallyformed to provide a pinching action on the key 32, the result is aproper positioning of the knob rotatably with respect to the sleeve sothat straight axial movement without further attention by the workmenwill result in correct placement of the slot 15 with respect to thelocking projection 14. Since the generally cylindrical nature of thesleeve 12 establishes a direction of movement of the knob parallel tothe axis of the sleeve, the inclined ramp 28 may be considered asdeviating from the axis of the sleeve so that it diverges inwardly (orto the left), as the knob is shoved into position in the relationshipillustrated in the drawings.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative pulposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is our intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as we are limited by the prior art.

We claim:

1. A device for retaining a door knob having a cavity of relativelylarge diameter and a tubular shank of relatively small diameter providedwith an opening therein in engagement with a door latch mechanism, saiddevice comprising:

a tubular sleeve extending from said mechanism and having axially spacedchordal portions adjacent the outer extremity of said sleeve, and spacedapertures disposed axially inwardly of said chordal portions,

said sleeve also having deformable tabs between said chordal portions;

a resilient leaf-spring member having a base normally supported on saidchordal portions and retained thereon by said tabs, said spring memberextending generally axially of said sleeve and having a lockingprojection adjacent the end thereof remote from said base and extendingradially outward with respect to said sleeve, and also having aninclined portion intermediate said base and projection, spaced from saidprojection, and diverging with respect to the axis of said sleeve,proceeding inwardly, and normally projecting beyond the periphery ofsaid sleeve, said locking projection and inclined portion beingnorportion will depress said spring member to retract said lockingprojection radially inward below the periphery of said sleeve oncontinued axial movement of said knob with respect to said sleeve, andsaid relationship" further establishing that said inclined portion isdisposed within a portion of said knob oflarger diameter than said'shank when said locking projection is oppositesaid shank opening,whereby the resilience of said spring member urges said lockingprojection radially outward into said opening,

said spring member also having a lateral oifsetvon said base normallyreceived between said tabs and portions of said sleeve to fix the axialposition of said spring member. a

2. A device for retaining a door knob having a cavity of relativelylarge diameter and a tubular shank of rela tively small diameterprovided with an opening therein in engagement with a door latchmechanism, said device comprising: i

'a tubular sleeve extending from said mechanism and having axiallyspaced chordal portions adjacent the outer extremity of said sleeve, andat least one aperture disposed axially inwardly of said chordalportions, 7 said sleeve also having at least one deformable tab oppositesaid chordal portions;

a resilient leaf-spring member having a base normally supported on' saidchordal portions and retained thereon by said ta b, said spring memberextending generally axially of said sleeve and having a lockingprojection adjacent the end thereof remote from said base and extendingradially outward with respect to said sleeve, and also having aninclined portion intermediate said base and projection, spacedfrom saidprojection, and diverging with respect to theaxis of said sleeve,proceedinginwardly, and normally projecting beyond the periphery of:said sleeve, said locking projection being normally received in saidaperture, and said locking projection and inclined portion spacinghaving a relationship to the spacing of said knob cavity and shankopening that the engagement of the inner edge'of said knob shank withsaid inclined portion will depress said spring member to retract saidlocking-projection radially inward below the periphery of said sleeve oncontinued axial movement of said knob withrespect to said sleeve, andsaid relationship further establishing that said inclined portion isdisposed withina portion of said knob of larger diameter than said shankwhen said locking projection is opposite said tively small diameterprovided with an opening therein 1 in engagement with a door latchmechanism, said device ture disposed axially inwardly of said chordalportion;

a resilient leaf-spring member having a base normally supported on saidchordal portion and secured'theretofsaid spring member extendinggenerally axially of said sleeve and having a locking projectionadjacent the end thereof remote from said base and extending radiallyoutward with respect to said sleeve, and also having an inclined portionintermediate said base and projection, spaced from said projection, anddiverging with respect to the axis of said sleeve, proceedinginwardly,and normally projecting beyond the periphery of said sleeve, saidlocking projection being normally received in said aperture, and saidlocking projection and inclined portion spacing having a relationship tothe spacing of said knob cavity and shank opening that the engagement ofthe inner edge of said knob shank with said inclined portion willdepress said spring member to retract said locking projection radiallyinward below the periphery of said sleeve on continued axial move mentof said knob with respect to said sleeve, and said relationship furtherestablishing that said inclined portion is disposed within a portion ofsaid knob of larger diameter than said shank when said lookingprojection is opposite said shank opening, Whereby the resilience ofsaid spring member urges said locking projection radially outward intosaid opening.

4. A device for retaining a door knob having a cavity of relativelylarge diameter and a tubular shank of relatively small diameter providedwith an opening therein in engagement with a door latch mechanism, saiddevice comprising: i

a tubular sleeve extending from said mechanism,

a resilient leaf-spring member having a base normally secured to saidsleeve, said spring member extending generally axially of said sleeveand having a looking projection adjacent the end thereof remote fromsaid base and extending radially outward with respect to said sleeve,and also having an inclined portion intermediate said base andprojection, spaced from said projection, and diverging with respect tothe axis of said sleeve, proceeding inwardly, and normally projectingbeyond the periphery of said sleeve, said locking projection andinclined portion spacing having a relationship to the spacing of saidknob cavity and shank opening that the engagement "of the. inner edge ofsaid-knob shank with said inclined portion will depres said springmember to retract said locking projection radially inward below theperiphery of said sleeve on continued axial movementsof said knob withrespect to said sleeve, and

' said relationship further establishing that said inclined portion isdisposed within a portion of said knob of larger diameter than saidshank when said locking projection is opposite said shankopening,whereby the resilience of said spring member urges said lockingprojection radially outward into said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

4. A DEVICE FOR RETAINING A DOOR KNOB HAVING A CAVITY OF RELATIVELYLARGE DIAMETER AND A TUBULAR SHANK OF RELATIVELY SMALL DIAMETER PROVIDEDWITH AN OPENING THEREIN IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A DOOR LATCH MECHANISM, SAIDDEVICE COMPRISING: A TUBULAR SLEEVE EXTENDING FROM SAID MECHANISM, ARESILIENT LEAF-SPRING MEMBER HAVING A BASE NORMALLY SECURED TO SAIDSLEEVE, SAID SPRING MEMBER EXTENDING GENERALLY AXIALLY OF SAID SLEEVEAND HAVING A LOCKING PROJECTION ADJACENT THE END THEREOF REMOTE FROMSAID BASE AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARD WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE,AND ALSO HAVING AN INCLINED PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID BASE ANDPROJECTION, SPACED FROM SAID PROJECTION, AND DIVERGING WITH RESPECT TOTHE AXIS OF SAID SLEEVE, PROCEEDING INWARLDY, AND NORMALLY PROJECTINGBEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SLEEVE, SAID LOCKING PROJECTION ANDINCLINED PORTION SPACING HAVING A RELATIONSHIP TO THE SPACING OF SAIDKNOB CAVITY AND SHANK OPENING THAT THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE INNER EDGE OFSAID KNOB SHANK WITH SAID INCLINED PORTION WILL DEPRES SAID SPRINGMEMBER TO RETRACT SAID LOCKING PROJECTING RADIALLY INWARD BELOW